wcthunderbolts.com

CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts’ bats were holstered by Evansville pitchers as the visiting Otters claimed the finale of a three-game series over the Bolts, 5-1 at Ozinga Field Thursday afternoon.

The Otters (30-19) jumped out to an early lead. In the first inning, Miles Gordon doubled down the right field line and later came home on a wild pitch.

The ThunderBolts’ offense struggled throughout the day, but they had multiple chances to tie the score early. In the bottom of the first, Dan Robinson walked and made it to third with two outs but was stranded there. In the third inning, Payton Robertson and Dan Robinson hit back-to-back two-out singles to put runners at the corners. Evansville starter Tim Holdgrafer was able to strand them to keep his shutout intact.

Holdgrafer wasn’t challenged the rest of the way. He lasted seven innings and did not allow a hit after the fourth.

Evansville added to their advantage when former ThunderBolt Riley Krane hit a solo home run in the fourth. Two more runs scored that inning when Andrew Penner smacked a two-out RBI hit that made the score 4-0.

Andretty Cordero scored on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth for Evansville’s final insurance run before the ThunderBolts (19-30) scored their only run in the bottom of the inning. Robinson singled and Rob Calabrese doubled him home for a 5-1 final score.

Holdgrafer (4-2) gave up only three hits and no run in earning the win and Jake Fisher (2-6) was the losing pitcher. Fisher allowed one run before being removed for an injury with two outs in the third.

The ThunderBolts hit the road on Friday to begin a seven-game trip and a three-game series with the Southern Illinois Miners. Miguel Ausua (4-2, 4.83) gets the game one call on the mound for Windy City. First pitch from Rent One Park in Marion is scheduled for 7:05 and links to the audio and video broadcasts can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.

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